Nigerian athletes Kayinsola Ajayi and Samuel Ogazi delivered outstanding performances at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States, clinching gold medals in the men’s 100m and 400m events respectively.
Ajayi, representing Auburn University, powered to victory in the men’s 100m final with a remarkable time of 9.72 seconds, becoming the first Nigerian athlete since 2019 to win the prestigious NCAA outdoor sprint title.
Although the performance eclipsed the existing African record of 9.77 seconds held by Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, the achievement could not be recognised as a new record due to a tailwind reading above the allowable limit.
The 21-year-old produced a commanding display in the final, pulling away from his rivals in the closing metres to secure his maiden NCAA outdoor title after finishing fourth in the event a year earlier.
His victory marked a significant milestone for Nigerian athletics and reinforced his growing reputation as one of the world’s most promising sprinters.
Ajayi had earlier booked his place in the final after winning his semi-final race in 9.94 seconds despite a sluggish start, demonstrating impressive composure and finishing strength.
Despite the wind-assisted conditions, his winning time ranks among the fastest ever recorded and further highlights his rapid development on the global sprinting stage.
In the men’s 400m event, Ogazi produced an even more historic performance as he successfully defended his NCAA title with a stunning run of 43.38 seconds.
Competing for the University of Alabama, the Nigerian shattered the NCAA record of 43.61 seconds previously set by American athlete Michael Norman in 2018.
The performance also established a new Nigerian national record and elevated Ogazi to fourth place on the all-time global rankings in the event.
The 20-year-old continued his remarkable rise after earlier breaking the long-standing Nigerian 400m record with a time of 44.02 seconds, surpassing the mark set by Innocent Egbunike in 1987.
His latest feat further cements his status as one of the most exciting quarter-milers in world athletics.
Meanwhile, another Nigerian athlete, Israel Okon, also impressed at the championships despite suffering disappointment in the 100m event.
The Auburn University sprinter rebounded strongly in the 200m final, finishing second with a personal best performance to record his highest-ever placement at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The achievements of Ajayi, Ogazi and Okon underscore Nigeria’s growing influence in collegiate athletics in the United States and provide further optimism for the country’s prospects on the international track and field stage.
